This is a BLOG from Mark Cochrane of Business Strategies Group in Hong Kong. We've been keeping a close watch on B2B media and business information in Asia since 2000 and look forward to sharing insights with you.

The latest update on new
facilities will include 40,000 m2 of exhibition space and 6,000 m2
of meeting room space, while convention and banqueting capacity will be
increased to cater to 10,000 and 2,000 people respectively.

Industry players have
voiced concerns regarding replacement space for the “65 large exhibitions and
events that will be displaced over the three years”, as well as the allocation
of open public space due to the inclusion of the adjoining Tumbalong Park in
the expansion.

Barry O’Farrell, Premier
of NSW, commented, “NSW has already lost A$150 million in economic benefit over
the four years to 2010-11 because the current facilities have not been able to
accommodate 169 conventions and 12 exhibitions. During the three-year
construction period, Sydney’s major events industry will remain open for
business… Sydney Olympic Park,
Moore Park, Sydney’s hotels,
the Australian Technology Park, Allphones Arena and other venues
in Sydney will play an expanded role in hosting conferences, exhibitions and
entertainment during the construction period.”

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter
which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website
to find out more about this service.You can also follow us on Twitter
for all the latest updates.

News this week: This week, NASDAQ-listed B2B
media company Global Sources
released an update on its first half revenue forecast.

Revenue forecast has
been revised down from the previous range of US$108 million to US$110 million
to the range of US$104 million to US$106 million. Company management also
expects EPS to drop from the range of US$0.36 to US$0.38, to the range of
US$0.31 to US$0.34.

Merle A. Hinrichs,
executive chairman of Global Sources, commented, “Our customers have become
increasingly conservative with their marketing budgets and as such we are now
revising our revenue and net income expectations for the first half of 2012. It
has become clear that exporters are reacting to the slowdown in exports and the
uncertainty in the global economy. In addition to the soft demand from the
United States and the European Union, we have also been affected by the
political situation in the Middle East, where we now expect significantly less
exhibitors for our May shows in Dubai. As such, we anticipate less than
expected revenue for the first half of 2012.”

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter
which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website
to find out more about this service.You can also follow us on Twitter
for all the latest updates.

News this week: NASDAQ-listed China Finance Online (CFO), a
Chinese online financial information provider, has released both its 2011’s
full year and fourth quarter results. For the year ended 31st
December, CFO recorded revenues of US$53 million, a decrease of 11% from
US$59.7 million recorded in 2010. Net loss attributable to shareholders in 2011
was US$19 million, compared to a profit of US$2 million in the previous year.

For the quarter ended 31st
December, revenues were US$11 million, a year-on-year 27% decrease compared to
US$15 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. Net loss attributable to
shareholders in the quarter was US$15 million, while to a profit of US$89,000
recorded in the same period of 2010.

Revenues were generated
from subscription fees from individual customers, subscription fees from
institutional customers, advertising revenues and revenues from
brokerage-related services. According to the company, in the fourth quarter,
revenues from subscription fees from individual customers decreased 39%
year-on-year, reflecting on the decreased in demand for financial information
products in China. The company had approximately 94,000 active paid subscribers
at the end of 2011.

In the result
announcement, CFO also announced the implement of a strategic transition of its
core business from providing premium subscription services to individual
investors, to developing fee-based securities investment advisory services with
wealth management services.

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter
which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website
to find out more about this service.You can also follow us on Twitter
for all the latest updates.